Piano History

Iron wound bass, experiences ?

  • 1.  Iron wound bass, experiences ?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-07-2025 11:11

    They don't make them like this anymore and haven't for a long time.  1903 Knabe 54" in beautiful shape. The pedal set-up is as good as it gets, transferring foot movement to the dampers with the least lost sensitivity, cam-drive 'soft' pedal, etc.  What I am doing is not a commercial job, but a family piano.  It has iron-wound bass strings, and given that there are 7 wound trichords on their own bridge at the break, Knabe was certainly aiming for a particular sound.  I want this piano to sound as close to the way the designers intended, so I am leaning towards going back with iron wound.  Some tell me there won't be a difference, but copper had been used for decades before this piano was built, so I am thinking the iron is there for a reason.  Any comments appreciated. 

    pedals


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    Ed Foote RPT
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